Fate brought Falorin Balogun to USMNT and its already reaping benefits
INGLEWOOD, Calif.— The noise inside Los Angeles Stadium on Friday night was deafening; 70,492 fans draped in red, white and blue roared with every American attack and chanted “USA!” throughout the 90-minute match.They were encouraged by a new face on the United States men’s national team.
A striker that carried the hopes and hearts of a nation.That man was Falorin Balogun, and his magical first half against Paraguay propelled the United States to the World Cup start they needed to hopefully advance far in the tournament.America opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory thanks to Balogun’s brace.But the AS Monaco forward was at the center of nearly every meaningful moment in the match.The first American goal arrived with Balogun’s fingerprints all over it.
Weston McKennie’s ball in the box was intended for Balogun, but Paraguay defender Damián Bobadilla intercepted it only to redirect the ball into his own net for an own goal.In the 28th minute, Balogun thought he had his first World Cup goal.He raced behind the defense and finished clinically, only to see the assistant referee’s flag raised for offside.
The celebration was wiped away, but Balogun raised both hands to hype up the crowd.Three minutes later, Christian Pulisic slipped a perfectly weighted through ball into space.This time there would be no flag and no reprieve for Paraguay.
Balogun calmly buried the chance to make it 2-0, sending the stadium into a frenzy.Just before halftime, he struck again.He raced into the box, got inside his defender before unleashing a left-footed shot into the upper-left corner of the net to push the lead to 3-0.The opening match at Los Angeles Stadium turned into a celebration and a victory party.
American supporters bounced up and down and continued their “USA” chants.Balogun’s brace made him the first American player to have a multi-goal game in the World Cup since Bert Patenaude did it in 1930, also against Paraguay 96 y...